Tube forming apparatus



April 23, 1963 L. J. KowAl.

TUBE FORMING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 16, 1959 M//Hzzb INVENToR.

United ESiti-,ates Patent Ofilice `'3,086,575 TUBELFRMING APPARATUS :Leonard J. Kowal, Prospect Heights, Ill., `assig'nor to Imperial-Eastman Corporation, a corporation of VIllinois Filed-Der. 16, Y19159, Ser. NRL-859,983 6 .Claims. `(Cl. 153-805) 4'This invention relates to tube'forining apparatus and `in particular to swaging apparatus for forming the end of iatube.

One method of `joining tubes of similar diameters is to enlarge one end Vof one tube permitting the end of the othertube to be inserted .telescopically thereinto and 'secured therein as bys'oldering. I'hepresentA invention is concerned with 'a'.forming apparatus'ifor eifectingthe de- 'sired enlargement `of--the one tube end.

Atprincipal object of the invention is, therefore, to 'providela'new and improved tube forming means.

Another object isto provide such a tube forming means including a Agraduated set of'swagingadapters providing 1improved facilitated formingof each of a plurality of tubes having dilrerent diameters.

A further object is toprovide such forming Ameans wherein'theset of adapters is arranged for improved functional association with the-means supporting selectively the Vadapters rinthe-tube forming apparatus. 'A Other "features and `advantages of the invention `will be lapparentfrom thefollowing `description taken in con- `nection with ythe accompanying drawing wherein:

jFIG. 1-isan elevation of -a aset of swaging-adaptersfem- -bodying 'the invention; Y

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectionofatube forming apparatusembodying the invention, `as arranged "for forming the end ofone size tube;

FIG. 3 isa viewsimila'r to that of LFIG. 2 but illustrat'ingiL the `arrangement ofthe-tube vforming apparatusand .tube end as at Vthecompletion of a rformingoperation; tand FIG. 4 `is `au.enlargedfragmentarysection 'of-the tube iioriningV apparatus .illustratiugrthe forming of adiierent sized tube.

In the exemplary .embodimentofthe invention as disc'losed [in .the l.drawing,.a.tube .forming al'ngiaratiis:l generally designated-'I0 Jincludes .a .base l1 having lan-Lupstanding l,portion .12 provided with a .bore 113 fthrough `which is axially `slidable ,a cylindrical support Tribe clampiinfg apparatusgenerally tdesignated V:'15 is further carried on base 11 for supporting a tube end T adjacent base portion 12 coaxially of isupport 14. Tube clamping means 15 may comprise a tube clamping means such as disclosed -in `co-pending George E. Frank application, Serial No. 855,639, led November 27, 1959 `and assigned to the Isame assignee `as is this application. The tube clamping means 15 includes a plurality of paired blocks arranged for selective clamping of each vof a plurality of different diameter tubes. Illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3 is ione such clamping block 16 for use with a 5/16 nominal diameter tube T; illustrated in FIG. 4 is another such clamping block 17 for use with a larger We" tube T'. Also carried on base 11 is an operating means comprising a cam 18 movable by a manually operable handle 19* to engage lthe cam with an enlargement 20 at the outer end of support 14 and force the support longitudinally toward tube T. The support is biased outwardly into engagement with cam 18 by means of a helical compression spring 21 extending between base portion 12 and support enlargement 20.

Tube forming apparatus 10 further includes a .graduated set 22 of swaging adapters herein identied as adapters 22a, 2lb, 22C yand 22d. The use of adapter 22'c in forming the end of tube T is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3, and the use of adapter 22d in forming the end 3,086,575 yPatented Apr. 423, 1963 Y2 ofy tube T is illustrated'inFIG. 4. The adapters are vpro- -vided with similar shankportions r'23 arranged to have a loose fit in `a coaxial -recess24- opening into the inner radial end .surface 25 of support .14. Shank 23 isloosely .retained inrecess 24 by apinlpassing freely through shank A23 and xed in opposed radiallholes 27 in support -14. A compression-spring 28 isreceived in a-reduced diameter extensionlda of recess 24 at the ou-terend there of to urge `shank 2li-to aposition wherein it projects partiallvfroml `support surface 25, as shown in FIG. 2.

` Each adap'teris provided at 'the end opposite the shank `23 With a swaging nose portion; the -nosepor-tion of each adapter of set 22 differs from the others thereof, nose Vpor-tion 29u of 4adapter 22a being adapted for `use with 'a small diameter tube, noseportion l29b of adapter 22b :being adapted for 'a larger diameter tube, nose `portion '29e of adapter 22C being adapted'foruse with -aV still larger diameter tube, andnose portion-'29d of adapter `22d being "adapted for use with the largest diameter tube. Eachinose portion includes a truste-conical inner end portion 30 wideningloutwardly toward shank 23, a'ffrusto-conica'l midportion `31`narr'owing outwardly toward shankla` from 'inner end portion 30, 'a cylindrical'midpoition32having '1a diameter less thanthe maximumdiarneter of inner end portions() and'extending outwardly from fru'sto-conical "portion 31, .and "a "frustoconical, outer `end portion 33 lwidening outwardlytoward shar1k23 from 'cylindrical midiportion 32. Each'of the'smallersized ladapters,:namely adapters22a, 22h and 122e isfurther lprovidedwith an 'an- 'nlar collarportion 34a, Sli-bland 34C, respectively, intermediate outer'endpor-ti-on 33`and shankz. Each col-lar portion includes "a radial'surface 3S facing the nose of 'the adapter. 'As-best Vseen -in`FIG.jl, theaxial length of '=thecollar s areinver'sely related tothe-nose' diameters,

The luseof tube forming apparatustlin forming 2tbing corresponding -in diameter selectively to one 'of f'ada-pters 22a, Zzbor 22e is `illustratedin FIGS. 2. and

3 as' each of'thetwo smaller sized adaptersvfunctionssimitube end. When collar 34C abuts surface 25, the adapter becomes longitudinally fixed on the support and further advance -of the support causes the adapter nose end 30 to enter into and form the tube end.

As best seen in FIG. 3, at the completion of the forming operation, the tip 36 of ftube T is ilared` outwardly by its engagement Iwith the frusto-conical portion 33 of the nose. As the tip 36 passes beyond nose portion 30 to around portion 32, it constricts slightly due to the natural resiliency of the tube material. The frusto-conical portion 33 enlarges the tip portion 36 slightly to permit a facilitated withdrawal of the adapter nose from the tube end, and assure facilitated insertion of another tube end in the thusly enlarged en-d of tube T. The completion of the forming operation is positively indicated by the abutment of tip 36 with the surface 35 of collar 34C eiectively assuring a proper, fullforming of the tube end even by non-skilled persons.

Adapter 22d which corresponds to the largest diameter tube is not provided with a collar portion. However, the maximum diameter of the outer frusto-conical portion v3` thereof is smaller than the idiameter of support 14 thus permitting the tip 36 of tube T' to abut support surface 25 at the completion of the forming operation to provide the positive indication thereof. By thus arranging the set 22 of adapters so that the largest size adapter requires no collar, the over-all length of each of the adapters is effectively minimized providing facilitated manufacture and utilization. Further, by varying the longitudinal extent of the different collars inversely to the diametric size of the adapter, the over-all length of the different adapters of set 22 may be made comparable while yet the longitudinal extent of the enlargement of the tube end is proper for each of the different diameter tubes formed therewith.

While I have shown and described one embodiment of my invention, it is to be understood that it is capable of many modifications. Changes, therefore, in the construction and arrangement may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Tube forming apparatus comprising: means for holding a tube having any one of a plurality of different diameters; a support; means associated with the holding means and support for forcing the support coaxially toward the end of a tube in the holding means; and a graduated set of swaging adapters, each adapter having a similar shank portion for attaching selectively the adapters coaxially to the support, each adapter having a swaging nose portion, the nose portion of ea'ch adapter of the set differing from the others thereof for use with a corresponding diameter tube of said plurality, the adapter corresponding to the smallest diameter tube having a collar intermediate the nose portion and shank portion thereof to abut the end of the tube when the nose portion thereof is inserted sufficiently into the tube end to effect the forming thereof, the adapter corresponding to the largest diameter tube having a nose portion extending fully to the shank portion to permit the support to abut the end of the tube when the nose portion thereof is inserted sufficiently into the tube end to effect the forming thereof, and the adapters corresponding to tube diameters intermediate the smallest and largest diameters each having a collar the relative longitudinal extents of which differ inversely to the corresponding tube diameters.

2. The tube flaring apparatus of claim 1 including means securing the shank of any one of said adapters to said support which means biases the adapter to project partially outwardly from the support toward the tube end prior to engagement of the nose of the adapter with the tube end and which permits the adapter to be forced back relative to the support by the engagement of the nose of the adapter with the tube end until the portion of the adapter immediately outwardly of the shank abuts the support to provide a longitudinally xed carrying of the adapter on the support in completing the forming advance of the adapter into the tube end.

3. The tube forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the end of the nose portion of each adapter closest the shank portion thereof ares outwardly toward the shank to enlarge the tube end thereat and facilitate withdrawal of the tube end from the adapter upon completion of the forming operation.

4. The tube forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the portion of each adapter closest the shank portion thereof is transversely substantially larger than the shank portion.

5. vThe tube forming apparatus of `claim 1 wherein the nose of each adapter includes a frusto-conical, inner end portion widening outwardly toward the shank, a midportion having a diameter less than that of the outer extremity of the inner end portion, and an outer end portion widening outwardly toward the shank to enlarge the tip of the tube end being flared for facilitating withdrawal thereof from the adapter upon completion of the forming operation.

6. The tube forming apparatus of claim 1 wherein the nose of each adapter corresponding to tube diameters smaller than the largest diameter includes a frusto-conical, inner end portion widening outwardly toward the shank, a mid-portion having a diameter less than that of the outer extremity of the inner end portion, and an outer end portion widening outwardly toward the shank to enlarge the tip of the tube end being flared for facilitating withdrawal thereof from the adapter upon completion of the forming operation, and the collar thereof is disposed intermediate the outer extremity of the nose outer end portion and the shank, the collar having a radial surface facing the nose for positively limiting `the insertion of the nose into the tube end by engagement of said surface with the tip of the tube end.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 970,669 Vallone Sept. 20, 1910 1,037,789 McGrath Sept. 3, 1912 1,403,570 Rush Jan. 12, 1922 2,089,119 Irvin Aug. 3, 1937 2,117,543 Corrigan May 17, 1938 A 2,357,123 Maxwell Aug. 29, 1944 2,459,808 Seyer Jan. 25, 1949 2,543,480 Vaill Feb. 27, 1951 2,742,948 Baird Apr. 24, 1956 2,780,272 Ammon Feb. 5, 1957 2,827,102 Kay Mar. 18, 1958 2,893,463 lowal c July 7, 1959 

1. TUBE FORMING APPARATUS COMPRISING: MEANS FOR HOLDING A TUBE HAVING ANY ONE OF A PLURALITY OF DIFFERENT DIAMETERS; A SUPPORT; MEANS ASSOCIATED WITH THE HOLDING MEANS AND SUPPORT FOR FORCING THE SUPPORT COAXIALLY TOWARD THE END OF A TUBE IN THE HOLDING MEANS; AND A GRADUATED SET OF SWAGING ADAPTERS, EACH ADAPTER HAVING A SIMILAR SHANK PORTION FOR ATTACHING SELECTIVELY THE ADAPTERS COAXIALLY TO THE SUPPORT, EACH ADAPTER HAVING A SWAGING NOSE PORTION, THE NOSE PORTION OF EACH ADAPTER OF THE SET DIFFERING FROM THE OTHERS THEREOF FOR USE WITH A CORRESPONDING DIAMETER TUBE OF SAID PLURALITY, THE ADAPTER CORRESPONDING TO THE SMALLEST DIAMETER TUBE HAVING A COLLAR INTERMEDIATE THE NOSE PORTION AND SHANK PORTION THEREOF TO ABUT THE END OF THE TUBE WHEN THE NOSE PORTION THEREOF IS INSERTED SUFFICIENTLY INTO THE TUBE END TO EFFECT THE FORMING THEREOF, THE ADAPTER CORRESPONDING TO THE LARGEST DIAMETER TUBE HAVING A NOSE PORTION EXTENDING FULLY TO THE SHANK PORTION TO PERMIT THE SUPPORT TO ABUT THE END OF THE TUBE WHEN THE NOSE PORTION THEREOF IS INSERTED SUFFICIENTLY INTO THE TUBE END TO EFFECT THE FORMING THEREOF, AND THE ADAPTERS CORRESPONDING TO TUBE DIAMETERS INTERMEDIATE THE SMALLEST AND LARGEST DIAMETERS EACH HAVING A COLLAR THE RELATIVE LONGITUDINAL EXTENTS OF WHICH DIFFER INVERSELY TO THE CORRESPONDING TUBE DIAMETERS. 